Oprah and Dr. Oz Talk to Celebrities About “After the Diagnosis”
Tuesday, March 17th Oprah’s show will feature an interview with Montel Williams about living with chronic illness and they will be joined by the well-known physician Dr. Oz. This is not an endorsement of any kind for Oprah or her television show, but I am eager to see what this episode reveals regarding living with illness, and am glad to see an illness that is invisible being represented too. The preview also shows it will feature Scott Hamilton and Fran Drescher.
You can comment on the program now, or after it shows at her forum at Oprah.com (you must first register). If you feel comfortable doing so I encourage you to express what it’s like to live with a chronic illness. It’s no secret I would love for her to be aware of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, and for her to see that nearly 1 in 2 live with illness—quietly–not just the celebrities that are willing to speak out.
Here is what I submitted to the forum. It is waiting approval (and I’m not sure it will make it through or not.)
Everyone copes with a chronic illness in the best way he or she knows how at the time. I have lived with rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 24 (16 years now) and like many people who are posting here, I just take one day at a time. Right now I have been in a new “season” of my disease, off Humera since Aug 2008 because I ended up with the flesh-eating bacteria in a wound. Extra prednisone and other meds are keeping me going–but just barely.
As founder of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, I am eager to see what this show entails. As a long-time viewer of Oprah through the years, I applaud her efforts to finally talk about the emotional impact of invisible illnesses. (MS can be invisible for years and then can become “more visible” as the disease progresses, liike my RA and many other illnesses.)
Many of us may be frustrated if Montel shares experiences that are different than are own. I see posts that express that Montel is a bit whiny about his experience of “fighting for his life” while living with this disease.
But a couple points: One, he isn’t alone in his experience and will be encouraging many people who feel alone and isolated in their feelings of suicide. According to various studies, depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than for the average person and physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides—over 50 % of the people being under 35.
Secondly, I think the honesty and vulnerability he expresses (as seen in the brief preview clip) are vital so that more people can be aware of “the face” of invisible illness. Let’s face it: when people like Montel Williams or Michael J. Fox (who is on the cover of Good Housekeeping this month) speak out, it gives illness a face — and a young one at that! Something those of us under 60 should appreciate.
It’s a nice reminder to healthy people that there are many of us who “look fine” but who are not, and who can legally park in the handicapped parking spot when necessary (even when we emotionally don’t want to!) Over 133 million people live with chronic illness, about 1 in 2 in the USA and about 96% of these diseases are invisible.
I have always liked Dr. Oz and am glad that we can hear from him on the topic of illness, perhaps even some of the emotions behind it. Rather than just sensationalize Montel’s experience, I think it’s vital that the audience hear from a well-respected physician on what you can do after the diagnosis when the illness begins to affect all areas of your life, as well as that of your family.
Thank you for taking the time to let people know about Invisible Illness Week. This year it will be September 14-20, 2009 and we are planning for it right now! We are eager to see how we can spread the word even more effectively this year and you make a huge difference!
LISA;HELLO I JUST READ YOUR RECENT BLOG.YOU ARE TOO BE COMMENDED FOR THE DIRECTION YOU ARE LEADING US WITH THE HAND OF GOD OVERSEEING REST MINISTRY.I THINK THE OPRAH AUDEINCE IS A MOST NEEDED SHOW FOR THE WORLD TOO KNOW ABOUT THE TRIALS WE GO THRU.THEIR IS NOTHING MORE FRUSTRATING THAN TOO HAVE SOMEBODY WANT TOO KNOW WHY YOUR ON MEDICINE AS HEALTHY AS YOU ARE.I THINK WE HERE AT REST MINISTRIES ARE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING REALLY BIG. ESPECIALLY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.ALSO TOO EDUCATE THE WORLD ON WHAT WE ARE GOING THRU.ANOTHER HUGE POINT I HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH IS I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE IN MY ILLNESS.WHEN I READ WHAT OTHERS ARE WRITING IT ALL HAS THIS COMMON THREAD TO IT IT.WE ARE ALL GROWING HERE AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND “HEIRS OF HIS SUFFERINGS”. I REALLY THINK WITH EXPOSURE LIKE OPRAH AND THE SENATE BILL 54 ON RSD/CRPS AND THE PAIN BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW FOR THE SIXTH STATE OF OHIO FOR THE EDUCATION AND IMPROVED TREATMENT AND SEVERAL PAIN ISSUES THAT WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE WALKING THIS PATH.IF WE CONTINUE TOO WITNESS THRU OUR SUFFERING LIKE SEVERAL OF THE APOSTLES AND OUR LORD DID WE CAN REALLY REACH ALOT OF PEOPLE.I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT GOD WANTS US HERE AND DOING THIS.I FEEL WE ARE GOING TOO BE GLAD AND AMAZED AT THE DIRECTION THIS MINISTRY IS TAKING ALL OF US.WE ARE GOING TOO GET OUT OF IT AS MUCH AS WE PUT IN IT AND THEN SOME.I KNOW I AM. GOD BLESS,THOMAS
TOM
March 17, 2009
Your blog has inspire me to have hope despite of the pain and hardship we experienced as my son Rudy won Mindal suffered from SLE-Systemic Lupus Erythematous with secondary to autoimmune hepatitis
Elvira Mindal
April 1, 2009
Hello, I just found this web site today,so unfortunately, I missed the Montel Williams interview on Oprah’s show. I read your comments under, “Oprah and Dr. Oz Talk to Celebrities About ‘After the Diagnosis’” I learned you suffer from RA. That hit me like a ton of bricks, insofar as, the love of my life, died 9 months ago (yesterday) from RA. She was a courageous person and I created several short movies as a way of honoring her memory. I want do my part to increase public awareness of RA, and want to use my brief 5 to 9 minutes movies to help accomplish this. I sent several to Oprah, in hopes of creating interest in “our” story, and those countless others out there trying to live with their “invisible illnesses.” If you are interested in receiving one of my CDs, please let me know, and I will gladly mail one to you.
Walter Burnett
Walter Burnett
July 11, 2009